U.S. patent number 11,332,226 [Application Number 17/026,351] was granted by the patent office on 2022-05-17 for vessel.
This patent grant is currently assigned to YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The grantee listed for this patent is YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Mitsuyoshi Nakamura.
United States Patent |
11,332,226 |
Nakamura |
May 17, 2022 |
Vessel
Abstract
A vessel includes a vessel body, an engine, a propulsion device,
a drive shaft, a partition wall, a bearing, an elastic member, an
outer housing, and a positioning member. The drive shaft transmits
a driving force of the engine to the propulsion device, and the
propulsion device generates a thrust by the driving force. The
drive shaft is inserted into an insertion hole of the partition
wall. The bearing rotatably supports the drive shaft. The elastic
member supports the bearing. The outer housing supports the elastic
member, and is fixed to the partition wall. The positioning member
positions the elastic member with respect to the bearing and the
outer housing by pressing the elastic member.
Inventors: |
Nakamura; Mitsuyoshi (Shizuoka,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Iwata |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI
KAISHA (Shizuoka, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
1000006309793 |
Appl.
No.: |
17/026,351 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2020 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20210107613 A1 |
Apr 15, 2021 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 11, 2019 [JP] |
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JP2019-187575 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63H
23/321 (20130101); B63B 34/10 (20200201); B63B
3/14 (20130101); B63B 11/06 (20130101); B63H
11/04 (20130101); B63H 23/34 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B63H
11/04 (20060101); B63B 3/14 (20060101); B63B
34/10 (20200101); B63H 23/32 (20060101); B63H
23/34 (20060101); B63B 11/06 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;440/440,38,52,83 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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06-48386 |
|
Feb 1994 |
|
JP |
|
07-205888 |
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Aug 1995 |
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JP |
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08-40374 |
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Feb 1996 |
|
JP |
|
08-67296 |
|
Mar 1996 |
|
JP |
|
2588245 |
|
Jan 1999 |
|
JP |
|
3111187 |
|
Nov 2000 |
|
JP |
|
4387158 |
|
Dec 2009 |
|
JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Venne; Daniel V
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Keating and Bennett, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vessel comprising: a vessel body; an engine; a propulsion
device to generate a thrust with a driving force of the engine; a
drive shaft to transmit the driving force of the engine to the
propulsion device; a partition wall including an insertion hole
into which the drive shaft is inserted; a bearing that rotatably
supports the drive shaft; an elastic member to support the bearing;
an outer housing that supports the elastic member and is fixed to
the partition wall; and a positioning member that positions the
elastic member with respect to the bearing and the outer housing by
pressing the elastic member.
2. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member
positions the elastic member with respect to the bearing and the
outer housing by pressing the elastic member toward the partition
wall.
3. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is
fixed to the vessel body.
4. The vessel according to claim 1, further comprising: an inner
housing that houses the bearing; wherein the elastic member
supports the bearing through the inner housing.
5. The vessel according to claim 4, wherein the elastic member is
not bonded to the inner housing or to the outer housing.
6. The vessel according to claim 5, wherein the outer housing is
integral and unitary with the partition wall.
7. The vessel according to claim 6, wherein the outer housing
includes a cylindrical body that surrounds the drive shaft.
8. The vessel according to claim 5, wherein the outer housing
includes a cylindrical body surrounding the drive shaft; the
cylindrical body includes a peripheral wall that extends in a
circumferential direction of the drive shaft, and an end wall that
is connected to an end portion of the peripheral wall and
intersects the drive shaft; the outer housing faces the partition
wall; and the vessel further comprises a connector that connects
the peripheral wall to the partition wall.
9. The vessel according to claim 8, wherein the positioning member
includes the end wall.
10. The vessel according to claim 5, wherein the outer housing
includes a plurality of components that are separable from each
other.
11. The vessel according to claim 5, wherein the inner housing
includes a cylindrical body that surrounds the drive shaft.
12. The vessel according to claim 11, further comprising a first
seal disposed side by side with the bearing in the inner housing
and that closes a gap between the inner housing and the drive
shaft.
13. The vessel according to claim 12, further comprising a second
seal disposed so that the bearing is sandwiched between the first
seal and the second seal in the inner housing and that closes a gap
between the inner housing and the drive shaft.
14. The vessel according to claim 13, wherein the inner housing
includes: a first portion that surrounds the bearing, the first
seal, and the second seal; and a second portion that is smaller in
diameter than the first portion and that is inserted into the
insertion hole and extends from the first portion to the partition
wall in a state in which the second portion surrounds the drive
shaft.
15. The vessel according to claim 14, wherein the elastic member
includes a cylindrical body that surrounds the drive shaft.
16. The vessel according to claim 15, wherein the elastic member
includes a portion sandwiched between the first portion and a
peripheral edge portion of the insertion hole in the partition
wall.
17. The vessel according to claim 15, wherein the elastic member
includes a hole.
18. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein the propulsion device
includes a jet pump that generates the thrust by sucking and
jetting water with the driving force of the engine.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2019-187575 filed on Oct. 11, 2019. The entire
contents of this application are hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vessel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-67296 discloses a
water-jet propulsion watercraft. This water-jet propulsion
watercraft includes a vessel body, an engine mounted inside the
vessel body, and a water-jet propulsion device disposed behind the
engine. The output of the engine is transmitted to the water-jet
propulsion device through a connecting shaft (drive shaft) causing
the water-jet propulsion watercraft to travel. The connecting shaft
is supported by a bearing disposed inside the vessel body. In more
detail, the bearing is disposed at a mounting bracket fixed to a
vessel bottom. The bearing includes a housing fixed to the mounting
bracket, a collar housed in the housing, a ball bearing that is
built into the collar and that supports the connecting shaft, and a
rubber damper that is disposed between the housing and the collar
and that absorbs a displacement of the connecting shaft.
It is a common practice for the rubber damper to be bonded to the
housing and to the collar (for example, cure adhesion) although
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-67296 does not give a
detailed description of this. However, the adhesion of the rubber
damper is a time-consuming job, and therefore production costs are
increased. Additionally, in the water-jet propulsion watercraft of
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-67296, the mounting
bracket, which is a dedicated component, is provided to fix the
bearing, and therefore production costs become even higher.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to overcome the previously unrecognized and unsolved
challenges described above, preferred embodiments of the present
invention provide vessels that each include a vessel body, an
engine, a propulsion device, a drive shaft, a partition wall, a
bearing, an elastic member, an outer housing, and a positioning
member. The propulsion device generates a thrust with a driving
force of the engine. The drive shaft transmits the driving force of
the engine to the propulsion device. An insertion hole into which
the drive shaft is inserted is provided in the partition wall. The
bearing rotatably supports the drive shaft. The elastic member
supports the bearing. The outer housing supports the elastic
member, and is fixed to the partition wall. The positioning member
positions the elastic member with respect to the bearing and the
outer housing by pressing the elastic member.
According to the above structural arrangement, the drive shaft is
rotated by the driving force of the engine, and the driving force
of the engine is transmitted to the propulsion device due to the
rotation of the drive shaft. The propulsion device generates a
thrust by the transmission of the driving force of the engine. The
drive shaft is rotatably supported by the bearing in a state in
which the drive shaft is inserted in the insertion hole in the
partition wall. The bearing is elastically supported by the elastic
member, and therefore vibrations of the drive shaft and of the
bearing that result from the rotation of the drive shaft and the
like are absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic member.
Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce or prevent
vibrations of the drive shaft and of the bearing from being
transmitted to the vessel body. Additionally, the displacement of
the drive shaft and the displacement of the bearing are permitted
when vibrations occur, and, as a result, fatigue caused by
vibrations is not easily accumulated on these components, and
therefore it is possible to significantly reduce or prevent these
components from being broken.
The elastic member is supported by the outer housing fixed to the
partition wall. The elastic member is pressed by the positioning
member, and thus is positioned with respect to the bearing and the
outer housing. Therefore, the elastic member is not required to be
bonded to the bearing and to the outer housing in order to position
the elastic member. Therefore, it is possible to reduce production
costs for an arrangement that supports the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the positioning
member positions the elastic member with respect to the bearing and
the outer housing by pressing the elastic member toward the
partition wall.
According to the above structural arrangement, the elastic member
is pressed toward the partition wall by the positioning member, and
thus is compressed in a pressing direction by the positioning
member. Accordingly, the elastic member spreads in a direction that
intersects the pressing direction. Therefore, if the bearing and
the outer housing extend in the direction in which the elastic
member spreads, the elastic member after spreading is positioned
with respect to the bearing and the outer housing by being tightly
pressed into contact with the bearing and the outer housing. Thus,
the elastic member is not required to be bonded to the bearing and
to the outer housing in order to position the elastic member.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce production costs for an
arrangement that supports the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the partition
wall is fixed to the vessel body.
According to the above structural arrangement, the partition wall
is fixed to the vessel body, and the outer housing supports the
elastic member in a state in which the outer housing is fixed to
the partition wall. Thus, the elastic member is fixed to the vessel
body through the outer housing and the partition wall, thus making
it possible to support the bearing in a state in which positional
stability is maintained. This enables the bearing to support the
drive shaft in a state in which positional stability is
maintained.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vessel
further includes an inner housing that houses the bearing. The
elastic member supports the bearing through the inner housing.
According to the above structural arrangement, the elastic member
supports the bearing through the inner housing that houses the
bearing. In this case, when the positioning member positions the
elastic member with respect to the inner housing by pressing the
elastic member, the elastic member is also positioned with respect
to the bearing disposed in the inner housing. Thus, the elastic
member is not required to be bonded to the inner housing and to the
outer housing in order to position the elastic member. Therefore,
it is possible to reduce production costs for an arrangement that
supports the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic
member is not bonded to the inner housing or to the outer
housing.
According to the above structural arrangement, even if the elastic
member is not bonded to the inner housing and is not bonded to the
outer housing, the elastic member is positioned with respect to the
inner housing and the outer housing by being pressed by the
positioning member. Thus, the elastic member is not required to be
bonded to the inner housing, to the bearing disposed in the inner
housing, and to the outer housing in order to position the elastic
member. Therefore, it is possible to reduce production costs for an
arrangement that supports the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer
housing is integral and unitary with the partition wall.
According to the above structural arrangement, the outer housing
that supports the bearing through the elastic member is integral
and unitary with the partition wall, and therefore it is possible
to reduce the number of components. Therefore, it is possible to
reduce production costs for an arrangement that supports the drive
shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer
housing includes a cylindrical body that surrounds the drive
shaft.
According to the above structural arrangement, the outer housing
that supports the bearing through the elastic member includes a
cylindrical body that is simple in shape, and therefore it is
possible to easily produce the outer housing. Therefore, it is
possible to reduce production costs for an arrangement that
supports the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer
housing includes a cylindrical body surrounding the drive shaft and
including a peripheral wall that extends in a circumferential
direction of the drive shaft and an end wall that is connected to
an end portion of the peripheral wall and that intersects the drive
shaft. The outer housing faces the partition wall. The vessel
further includes a connection member that connects the peripheral
wall to the partition wall.
According to the above structural arrangement, although the outer
housing that supports the bearing through the elastic member is a
component different from the partition wall, the outer housing
includes a cylindrical body that is simple in shape, and therefore
it is possible to easily produce the outer housing. Therefore, it
is possible to reduce production costs for an arrangement that
supports the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the positioning
member includes the end wall.
According to the above structural arrangement, the end wall of the
outer housing that supports the bearing through the elastic member
also defines and functions as a positioning member that positions
the elastic member, and therefore it is possible to reduce the
number of components. Therefore, it is possible to reduce
production costs for an arrangement that supports the drive
shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer
housing includes a plurality of components that are separable from
each other.
According to the above structural arrangement, if it is difficult
to produce the outer housing that supports the bearing through the
elastic member as an integral and unitary structure, the outer
housing is made of a plurality of components that are separable
from each other. An operator is able to complete the outer housing
by combining these components together. This makes it possible to
use the outer housing having a desired structure, and makes it
possible to reduce production costs for an arrangement that
supports the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner
housing includes a cylindrical body that surrounds the drive
shaft.
According to the above structural arrangement, the inner housing
that houses the bearing includes a cylindrical body that is simple
in shape, and therefore it is possible to easily produce the inner
housing. Therefore, it is possible to reduce production costs for
an arrangement that supports the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vessel
further includes a first seal disposed side by side with the
bearing in the inner housing and that closes a gap between the
inner housing and the drive shaft.
According to the above structural arrangement, a gap between the
inner housing and the drive shaft supported by the bearing in the
inner housing is closed by the first seal, and therefore it is
possible to significantly reduce or prevent foreign substances,
such as water, from entering the gap.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vessel
further includes a second seal that closes a gap between the inner
housing and the drive shaft. The second seal is disposed such that
the bearing is sandwiched between the first seal and the second
seal in the inner housing.
According to the above structural arrangement, the gap between the
inner housing and the drive shaft supported by the bearing in the
inner housing is closed not only by the first seal but also by the
second seal so that the bearing is sandwiched between the first
seal and the second seal. This makes it possible to more
significantly reduce or prevent foreign substances, such as water,
from entering the gap, and additionally makes it possible to
significantly reduce or prevent foreign substances from adhering to
the bearing.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner
housing includes a first portion and a second portion. The first
portion surrounds the bearing, the first seal, and the second seal.
The second portion is smaller in diameter than the first portion,
and is inserted into the insertion hole while extending from the
first portion to the partition wall in a state in which the second
portion surrounds the drive shaft.
According to the above structural arrangement, a portion of the
drive shaft supported by the bearing that is inserted in the
insertion hole of the partition wall is surrounded by the second
portion of the inner housing that houses the bearing, and therefore
the portion of the drive shaft is isolated from the peripheral edge
portion of the insertion hole of the partition wall. Thus, even if
the bearing supported by the elastic member is displaced by
vibrations or the like, the drive shaft displaced together with the
bearing is protected by the second portion so as not to come into
contact with the peripheral edge portion of the insertion hole of
the partition wall. Therefore, it is possible to significantly
reduce or prevent the drive shaft from being broken due to contact
of the drive shaft with the peripheral edge portion of the
insertion hole.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic
member includes a cylindrical body that surrounds the drive
shaft.
According to the above structural arrangement, the elastic member
that supports the bearing includes a cylindrical body that is
simple in shape, and therefore it is possible to easily produce the
elastic member. Therefore, it is possible to reduce production
costs for an arrangement that supports the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic
member includes a portion that is sandwiched between the first
portion and a peripheral edge portion of the insertion hole in the
partition wall.
According to the above structural arrangement, a gap between the
first portion of the inner housing and the peripheral edge portion
of the insertion hole of the partition wall is closed by a portion
of the elastic member, and therefore it is possible to
significantly reduce or prevent foreign substances, such as water,
from entering the gap.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a hole is
provided in the elastic member to lighten the weight of the elastic
member.
According to the above structural arrangement, it is possible to
reduce the amount of material of the elastic member that supports
the bearing, and therefore it is possible to reduce production
costs for an arrangement that supports the drive shaft.
Additionally, it is possible to adjust the spring constant of the
elastic member that is deformed by being pressed by the positioning
member in accordance with the size or the shape of the hole. Thus,
it is possible to adjust the degree of adhesion of the elastic
member to the bearing and to the outer housing by adjusting the
spring constant of the elastic member. Therefore, it is possible to
position the elastic member with respect to the bearing and with
respect to the outer housing by the necessary strength even if the
elastic member is not bonded to the bearing and to the outer
housing. Therefore, it is possible to reduce production costs for
an arrangement that supports the drive shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the propulsion
device includes a jet pump to generate a thrust by sucking and
jetting water with a driving force of the engine, and the vessel is
a jet propulsion watercraft.
According to the above structural arrangement, it is possible to
reduce production costs for an arrangement that supports the drive
shaft that transmits the driving force of the engine to the
propulsion device in the jet propulsion watercraft.
The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments
with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a vessel according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an internal structure of a vessel
according to a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the internal structure
of the vessel according to the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an internal structure of a vessel
according to a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the internal structure
of the vessel according to the second preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a left side view of a vessel 1 according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. A left-right direction in FIG.
1 is a front-rear direction of the vessel 1. A left side in FIG. 1
is a front side of the vessel 1. A right side in FIG. 1 is a rear
side of the vessel 1. In the following description, the left-right
direction of the vessel 1 is defined based on when the vessel 1 is
facing forward. In other words, a near side in a direction
perpendicular to the plane of paper of FIG. 1 is a left side of the
vessel 1, and a far side in the direction perpendicular to the
plane of paper of FIG. 1 is a right side of the vessel 1. An
example of the vessel 1 is a small vessel that is called a personal
watercraft (PWC). The vessel 1 includes a vessel body 2 that is
substantially laterally symmetrical and an engine 3 attached to the
vessel body 2.
The vessel body 2 includes a hull 4 that defines a vessel bottom
and a deck 5 disposed above the hull 4, and extends longitudinally
in a front-rear direction. The sectional shape of the hull 4
preferably has a U-shape or a V-shape when the hull 4 is cut by a
vertical plane that is perpendicular to the front-rear direction of
the vessel 1. Therefore, most of an inner surface 4A of the hull 4
has a U-shape or a V-shape when viewed from the front-rear
direction, and the hull 4 includes a concave space defined by the
inner surface 4A. An inclined wall 4B that is inclined gradually
upwardly as it extends rearwardly is disposed at a rear end portion
of the hull 4. The inclined wall 4B includes a through-hole 4C that
passes through the inclined wall 4B in the front-rear
direction.
The deck 5 closes the concave space of the hull 4 from above. Thus,
the vessel body 2 includes an internal space 2A defined between the
hull 4 and the deck 5 in an up-down direction. The internal space
2A extends longitudinally in the front-rear direction, and a
portions of the internal space 2A is defined by the concave space
of the hull 4.
The vessel body 2 additionally includes a partition wall 6. The
partition wall 6 is also called a bulkhead. The partition wall 6
includes a vertical plate that extends rightwardly and leftwardly,
and is located, for example, at a position closer to the rear in
the internal space 2A. The partition wall 6 is disposed at a more
forward position than the inclined wall 4B of the hull 4. A lower
edge of the partition wall 6 preferably has a U-shape or a V-shape
that matches the inner surface 4A of the hull 4 when viewed from
the front-rear direction. The internal space 2A is partitioned by
the partition wall 6 into a front region 2B located at a more
forward position than the partition wall 6 and a rear region 2C
located at a more rearward position than the partition wall 6. The
partition wall 6 functions not only to partition the internal space
2A but also to reinforce the vessel body 2. The partition wall 6
includes a through-hole 6A that passes through the partition wall 6
in the front-rear direction.
The engine 3 is disposed in the front region 2B of the internal
space 2A. The engine 3 is, for example, an internal combustion
engine that includes a crankshaft (not shown) that rotates around a
crankshaft axis (not shown) extending in the front-rear
direction.
The vessel 1 additionally includes a seat 11 on which a crew member
or a plurality of crew members sit, a steering handle 12 that is
operated by a crew member sitting on the seat 11, and a propulsion
device 13 attached to a rear portion of the vessel body 2. The seat
11 and the steering handle 12 are disposed side by side in the
front-rear direction in an upper portion of the vessel body 2. More
specifically, the seat 11 is disposed at a central portion of the
deck 5, and the steering handle 12 is disposed at a position that
is able to be reached by the hands of a crew member sitting on the
seat 11 when the crew member forwardly extends his/her arms. A
throttle lever (not shown) is attached to a left end portion or a
right end portion of the steering handle 12, and the driving force
of the engine 3 is adjusted by the operation of the throttle lever
by the crew member.
The propulsion device 13 is disposed at a more rearward position
than the engine 3. The vessel 1 in the present preferred embodiment
is a jet propulsion watercraft, and the propulsion device 13 in
this case includes a jet pump that sucks water by the driving force
of the engine 3 from the vessel bottom and jets the water outwardly
from the vessel body 2. The propulsion device 13 jets water in this
way to generate a thrust to propel the vessel 1.
More specifically, the propulsion device 13 includes a cylindrical
flow passage 14 that extends rearwardly from the inclined wall 4B
of the hull 4, a water intake port 15 that is downwardly opened in
a front end portion of the flow passage 14 and through which water
existing around the vessel body 2 is sucked in, and a water outlet
port 16 that is rearwardly opened in a rear end portion of the flow
passage 14. The inside of the flow passage 14 is a space that is
different from the internal space 2A of the vessel body 2. The
through-hole 4C in the inclined wall 4B faces the inside of the
flow passage 14 from the front. The flow passage 14 guides water
sucked into the water intake port 15 to the water outlet port
16.
The vessel 1 additionally includes a drive shaft 17 to transmit the
driving force of the engine 3 to the propulsion device 13. The
drive shaft 17 may be regarded as an element of the propulsion
device 13. The drive shaft 17 extends in the front-rear direction.
A front portion 17A of the drive shaft 17 passes through the
through-hole 4C of the hull 4, and is disposed in the rear region
2C of the internal space 2A of the vessel body 2, and is inserted
into an insertion hole 6A of the partition wall 6, and is connected
to the crankshaft (not shown) of the engine 3 through a joint 18
(see FIG. 2 described below, for example). A rear portion 17B of
the drive shaft 17 is disposed in the flow passage 14. The drive
shaft 17 receives the driving force of the engine 3, and thus
rotates around a central axis C (see FIG. 3 described below) of the
drive shaft 17.
The propulsion device 13 additionally includes an impeller 19 and a
stationary blade 20 both of which are disposed in the flow passage
14, a cylindrical nozzle 21 including the water outlet port 16 that
defines and functions as the rear end portion of the flow passage
14, and a deflector 22 that rightwardly and leftwardly deflects a
water jet direction that extends rearwardly from the water outlet
port 16. The impeller 19 is connected to the rear portion 17B of
the drive shaft 17, and is rotatable around the central axis of the
drive shaft 17. The stationary blade 20 is disposed behind the
impeller 19, and is fixed to the flow passage 14. The nozzle 21 is
disposed behind the stationary blade 20.
The impeller 19 is rotationally driven by the engine 3 around the
central axis of the drive shaft 17 together with the drive shaft
17. When the impeller 19 is rotationally driven, water existing
around the vessel body 2 is sucked from the water intake port 15
into the flow passage 14, and is sent from the impeller 19 to the
stationary blade 20. The water sent by the impeller 19 passes
through the stationary blade 20, and, as a result, the torsion of a
water flow caused by the rotation of the impeller 19 is reduced,
and the water flow is straightened. Therefore, the straightened
water flow is sent from the stationary blade 20 to the nozzle 21.
The water outlet port 16 is located in a rear end of the nozzle 21.
The water sent to the nozzle 21 is jetted rearwardly from the water
outlet port 16.
The deflector 22 is cylindrical, and extends rearwardly from the
nozzle 21. The deflector 22 is connected to the nozzle 21 so as to
be rightwardly and leftwardly rotatable around a deflector axis 22A
that extends upwardly and downwardly. The water outlet port 16 of
the nozzle 21 is disposed in the deflector 22. The deflector 22
includes a jet opening 23 that opens rearwardly. The jet opening 23
is disposed behind the water outlet port 16. Water jetted
rearwardly from the water outlet port 16 passes through the inside
of the deflector 22, and is jetted rearwardly from the jet opening
23. Thus, a jet propulsion force in a forward direction is
generated. The deflector 22 rightwardly and leftwardly turns around
the deflector axis 22A in accordance with the operation of the
steering handle 12. Thus, the direction of water jetted from the
propulsion device 13, i.e., the direction of a thrust is
rightwardly and leftwardly changed by the operation of the steering
handle 12, and therefore the vessel 1 is steered.
The vessel 1 additionally includes a housing bearing 31 that
supports the front portion 17A of the drive shaft 17 in the
partition wall 6. The partition wall 6 may be regarded as an
element of the housing bearing 31. For example, first and second
preferred embodiments of the vessel 1 with respect to the housing
bearing 31 will be hereinafter described in this order.
First Preferred Embodiment
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an internal structure of a vessel 1
according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The partition wall 6 integrally includes a vertical plate 6B in
which the insertion hole 6A is provided and that extends upwardly,
downwardly, rightwardly, and leftwardly, a flange 6C that projects
in the front-rear direction and surrounds the whole area of the
outline of the vertical plate 6B, and a rib 6D that protrudes
forwardly or rearwardly from the vertical plate 6B and that is
connected to the flange 6C. A left end portion, a right end
portion, etc., of the flange 6C are fixed to the inner surface 4A
of the hull 4 by a fastening member 32, such as a bolt, and thus
the partition wall 6 is fixed to the hull 4.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the internal structure
of the vessel 1 according to the first preferred embodiment. The
front portion 17A of the drive shaft 17 includes a first shaft 17C
and a second shaft 17D. The first shaft 17C has a circular tubular
shape that extends in the front-rear direction. The second shaft
17D has a solid cylindrical shape that extends in the front-rear
direction, and is inserted into a hollow portion of the first shaft
17C from behind. The first shaft 17C and the second shaft 17D are
spline-connected to each other, and are rotatable together.
The joint 18 includes a first joint 18A fixed to a front end
portion of the first shaft 17C, a second joint 18B fixed to, for
example, a rear end portion of the crankshaft (not shown) of the
engine 3, and a damper 18C disposed between the first joint 18A and
the second joint 18B (see FIG. 2). The first joint 18A and the
second joint 18B each have a gear shape so as to engage with each
other. The damper 18C has a gear shape and is made of an elastic
material such as rubber. In the damper 18C, a plurality of convex
portions 18D (see FIG. 2) defining the gear shape are disposed one
by one between teeth 18E of the first joint 18A and teeth (not
shown) of the second joint 18B, respectively. A shock caused when
power is transmitted between the first joint 18A and the second
joint 18B is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the convex
portion 18D. A central portion of the first joint 18A is tightly
screwed into the front end portion of the first shaft 17C. A groove
17E is provided at a front end portion of an outer peripheral
surface of the first shaft 17C. An annular washer 33 is fitted to
the groove 17E. The first joint 18A is positioned in the front-rear
direction due to the washer 33 coming into contact with the first
joint 18A from behind. In the outer peripheral surface of the first
shaft 17C, the outer diameter of the portion that is contiguous to
the groove 17E from behind gradually becomes larger as it extends
toward the groove 17E.
The housing bearing 31 includes a bearing 34 that rotatably
supports the drive shaft 17, an inner housing 35 that houses the
bearing 34, and a first seal 36 and a second seal 37 both of which
are disposed in the inner housing 35. The housing bearing 31
additionally includes an elastic member 38 that supports the
bearing 34, an outer housing 39 that supports the elastic member 38
and that is fixed to the partition wall 6, and a positioning member
40 that positions the elastic member 38 with respect to the bearing
34 and the outer housing 39.
The bearing 34 is, for example, a ball bearing, and includes an
inner ring 41 that is fitted to a portion of the outer peripheral
surface of the first shaft 17C that is located at a more rearward
position than the groove 17E, an outer ring 42 that surrounds the
inner ring 41, and a plurality of rolling elements 43 disposed
between the inner ring 41 and the outer ring 42.
The inner housing 35 includes a cylindrical body, and is disposed
coaxially with the central axis C of the drive shaft 17, and
surrounds a portion of the first shaft 17C of the drive shaft 17
that is located at a more rearward position than the groove 17E.
The inner housing 35 is made of metal, for example, such as
aluminum. The inner housing 35 integrally includes a first portion
35A that defines and functions as a front portion of the inner
housing 35, a second portion 35B that defines and functions as a
rear portion of the inner housing 35, and a third portion 35C by
which the first portion 35A and the second portion 35B are
connected together. The first portion 35A surrounds not only the
first shaft 17C but also the bearing 34, the first seal 36, and the
second seal 37. The second portion 35B is smaller in diameter than
the first portion 35A. A rear end of the first portion 35A and a
front end of the second portion 35B are located at the same
position in the front-rear direction. The third portion 35C is
preferably annular, and connects the rear end of the first portion
35A and the front end of the second portion 35B together.
Each of the first and second seals 36 and 37 includes an annular
element, such as a known oil seal or O-ring. The number of the
first seals 36 and the number of the second seals 37 can be
arbitrarily set. As an example, a single first seal 36 may be
disposed side by side with the bearing 34 from the front, and two
second seals 37 may be disposed side by side with the bearing 34
from the rear so that the bearing 34 is sandwiched between the
first seal 36 and the second seals 37. Likewise, the shape of each
of the first and second seals 36 and 37 can be arbitrarily set. As
an example, the two second seals 37 may differ in shape from each
other. Additionally, the shape of the first seal 36 and the shape
of the forward one of the two second seals 37 may be symmetrical in
the front-rear direction with respect to the bearing 34 located
between the first seal 36 and the second seal 37.
Each of the first and second seals 36 and 37 is in contact with the
outer peripheral surface of the first shaft 17C of the drive shaft
17 and with an inner peripheral surface of the first portion 35A of
the inner housing 35. Thus, a gap K between the drive shaft 17 and
the inner housing 35 is closed.
A groove 35D is provided at a front end portion of the inner
peripheral surface of the first portion 35A, and an annular washer
44 is fitted to the groove 35D. An inner peripheral portion of the
washer 44 comes into contact with the first seal 36 from the front.
Additionally, the third portion 35C of the inner housing 35 comes
into contact with the rearward one of the two second seals 37 from
the rear. These two second seals 37 are in contact with each other.
Additionally, the outer peripheral portion of the first seal 36
comes into contact with the outer ring 42 of the bearing 34 from
the front, and the outer peripheral portion of the forward one of
the two second seals 37 comes into contact with the outer ring 42
of the bearing 34 from the rear. Therefore, the bearing 34, the
first seal 36, and the second seal 37 are positioned in the
front-rear direction.
The elastic member 38 has a cylindrical body, and is disposed
coaxially with the central axis C of the drive shaft 17, and is
made of an elastic material, such as rubber. The elastic member 38
surrounds the first portion 35A of the inner housing 35, and thus
surrounds the bearing 34, the first seal 36, the second seal 37,
and the first shaft 17C of the drive shaft 17 as well, in the first
portion 35A. An inner peripheral portion of the elastic member 38
includes an annular inner peripheral surface 38A that is flat in
the front-rear direction along the central axis C, a first
engagement portion 38B that projects from a front end of the inner
peripheral surface 38A toward the central axis C, and a second
engagement portion 38C that projects from a rear end of the inner
peripheral surface 38A toward the central axis C. The second
engagement portion 38C protrudes rearwardly by one step in a rear
end surface of the elastic member 38. The inner peripheral surface
38A comes into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the
first portion 35A, and the first engagement portion 38B comes into
contact with a front end surface of the first portion 35A from the
front, and the second engagement portion 38C comes into contact
with a rear end surface of the first portion 35A from the rear.
Thus, the elastic member 38 is attached to the first portion 35A so
as not to come off the first portion 35A. The elastic member 38 in
this state supports the bearing 34 disposed in the first portion
35A through the first portion 35A.
The elastic member 38 includes a single or a plurality of holes 38D
that extend rearwardly from a front end surface of the elastic
member 38 to lighten the weight of the elastic member 38. The hole
38D may or may not pass through the elastic member 38 in the
front-rear direction. In the present preferred embodiment, a
plurality of holes 38D that do not pass through the elastic member
38 are disposed side by side in a circumferential direction of the
elastic member 38. The circumferential direction of the elastic
member 38 is the same as a circumferential direction D around the
central axis C of the drive shaft 17.
The outer housing 39 includes a cylindrical body, and is disposed
coaxially with the central axis C of the drive shaft 17. The outer
housing 39 is made of metal, for example, such as aluminum. The
outer housing 39 surrounds the elastic member 38, and thus
surrounds the inner housing 35 disposed in the elastic member 38 as
well. Therefore, the outer housing 39 also surrounds the bearing
34, the first seal 36, the second seal 37, and the first shaft 17C
of the drive shaft 17 in the first portion 35A of the inner housing
35.
The outer housing 39 includes, at least, a peripheral wall 39A that
extends in the circumferential direction D of the drive shaft 17.
As an arrangement specific to the first preferred embodiment, the
outer housing 39 is integral and unitary with the partition wall 6,
and the outer housing 39 additionally includes a rear engagement
portion 39B that projects from a rear end portion of the peripheral
wall 39A toward the central axis C of the drive shaft 17. A halfway
portion of the peripheral wall 39A in the front-rear direction,
i.e., more specifically, a closer-to-the-front portion of the
peripheral wall 39A is connected to the vertical plate 6B of the
partition wall 6. Therefore, the peripheral wall 39A protrudes
forwardly or rearwardly from the vertical plate 6B.
A space surrounded by the outer housing 39, i.e., an internal space
of the outer housing 39 defines the insertion hole 6A of the
partition wall 6. Therefore, the elastic member 38, the first
portion 35A of the inner housing 35, the bearing 34, the first seal
36, the second seal 37, and a portion of the first shaft 17C of the
drive shaft 17 are disposed at the insertion hole 6A. A rear
portion of the second portion 35B protrudes rearwardly from the
insertion hole 6A although a front end portion of the second
portion 35B of the inner housing 35 is disposed at the insertion
hole 6A.
An inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 39A is in
contact with an outer peripheral surface of the elastic member 38.
The rear engagement portion 39B comes into contact with an outer
peripheral portion of a rear end surface of the elastic member 38
from the rear, and surrounds the second engagement portion 38C of
the elastic member 38. A front end surface of the peripheral wall
39A is located at substantially the same position in the front-rear
direction as the front end surface of the elastic member 38, and
these front end surfaces are substantially flush with each other
along a radial direction R with respect to the central axis C of
the drive shaft 17. The elastic member 38 is disposed between the
first portion 35A of the inner housing 35 and the peripheral wall
39A of the outer housing 39, and is in contact with the first
portion 35A and with the peripheral wall 39A, and yet is not bonded
to the inner housing 35 and is not bonded to the outer housing
39.
The positioning member 40 according to the first preferred
embodiment preferably has the shape of a thin plate, for example,
and integrally includes a vertical plate portion 40A and a single
or a plurality of fixed portions 40B (in the present preferred
embodiment, a plurality of fixed portions 40B). The vertical plate
portion 40A preferably has a disk shape that is equal or
substantially equal in diameter to the outer housing 39, and
includes a through-hole 40C that passes through the vertical plate
portion 40A in the front-rear direction at the center of the
vertical plate portion 40A. Each of the fixed portions 40B is
disposed at an outer peripheral portion of the vertical plate
portion 40A, and is bent rearwardly, and then is further bent
outwardly in the radial direction R. A through-hole 40D is provided
in each of the fixed portions 40B.
The positioning member 40 is disposed so that the vertical plate
portion 40A faces the elastic member 38 and the outer housing 39
from the front. Each of the fixed portions 40B of the positioning
member 40 faces any portion of the partition wall 6. A projection
portion 6E that projects from the flange 6C, the rib 6D, etc., and
that faces the fixed portion 40B may be disposed at the partition
wall 6 (see FIG. 2). A threaded hole 6F is provided in a portion of
the partition wall 6 that faces the through-hole 40D of each of the
fixed portions 40B. In the present preferred embodiment, a
fastening member 45 including a bolt, for example, is inserted into
each of the through-holes 40D, and is tightened into the threaded
hole 6F. Thus, the positioning member 40 is fixed to the partition
wall 6. A washer 46 may be disposed between a head portion of the
bolt of the fastening member 45 and the partition wall 6. The
positioning member 40 may include a bent portion 40E that is
disposed at the outer peripheral portion of the vertical plate
portion 40A separately from the fixed portion 40B and that is bent
rearwardly (see FIG. 2). The bent portion 40E is disposed along an
outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 39A of the outer
housing 39.
In the positioning member 40 fixed to the partition wall 6 in this
way, the vertical plate portion 40A rearwardly presses at least one
portion (in FIG. 3, an upper region) of the front end surface of
the elastic member 38. Thus, the first engagement portion 38B of
the elastic member 38 is pressed against a front end surface of the
inner housing 35. Additionally, an outer peripheral portion of the
rear end surface of the elastic member 38 is pressed against the
rear engagement portion 39B of the outer housing 39 that defines a
portion of the partition wall 6 in the first preferred embodiment.
In other words, the vertical plate portion 40A presses the elastic
member 38 toward the partition wall 6. Thus, the elastic member 38
is compressed in the front-rear direction between the vertical
plate portion 40A and the rear engagement portion 39B, and, in
accordance with this compression, spreads inwardly and outwardly in
the radial direction R. Therefore, the elastic member 38 is tightly
pressed into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first
portion 35A of the inner housing 35, and is tightly pressed into
contact with the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall
39A of the outer housing 39. The elastic member 38 in this state is
positioned in the front-rear direction and in the radial direction
R with respect to the inner housing 35, with respect to the outer
housing 39, and with respect to the bearing 34 disposed in the
inner housing 35. The front end portion including the groove 17E in
the first shaft 17C of the drive shaft 17 passes through the
through-hole 40C of the vertical plate portion 40A, and is disposed
at a more forward position (a side of the engine 3) than the
through-hole 40C.
Second Preferred Embodiment
In the following description, the same reference numerals are given
to functionally-identical components with already-described
components of the first preferred embodiment, and a description of
the functionally-identical components is omitted. FIG. 4 is a
perspective view of an internal structure of a vessel 1 according
to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
A vessel 1, such as a sports boat larger in size than a personal
watercraft, according to the second preferred embodiment includes a
partition wall 6 that is larger at least laterally than the
partition wall 6 according to the first preferred embodiment.
Therefore, it is difficult to design the partition wall 6 according
to the second preferred embodiment so as to have a complicated
shape, and therefore the partition wall 6 according to the second
preferred embodiment has a comparatively simple shape in which the
rib 6D and the projection portion 6E are omitted although it does
include the vertical plate 6B and the flange 6C.
In the second preferred embodiment, the outer housing 39 is a
component different from the partition wall 6. The outer housing 39
integrally includes, in addition to the peripheral wall 39A, a
single or a plurality of fixed portions 39C (in the present
preferred embodiment, a plurality of fixed portions 39C) that
protrude outwardly in the radial direction R from the rear end
portion of the peripheral wall 39A and an annular end wall 39D that
is connected to the front end portion of the peripheral wall 39A
and that projects inwardly in the radial direction R. In the second
preferred embodiment, the end wall 39D defines and functions as the
positioning member 40 described above. In other words, the
positioning member 40 includes the end wall 39D.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the internal structure
of the vessel 1 according to the second preferred embodiment. The
outer housing 39 may be an integral and unitary structure, or may
include a plurality of elements, i.e., may include, for example, a
closer-to-the-upper first element 39E and a closer-to-the-lower
second element 39F so that the outer housing 39 is able to be
separated into these elements.
In the housing bearing 31, components that are different from the
partition wall 6, the outer housing 39, and the positioning member
40 are arranged in substantially the same way in the first
preferred embodiment and the second preferred embodiment, i.e., the
bearing 34, the inner housing 35, the first seal 36, the second
seal 37, and the elastic member 38 are arranged in substantially
the same way in the first preferred embodiment and the second
preferred embodiment. However, the bearing 34, the first seal 36,
the second seal 37, the elastic member 38, and the first portion
35A of the inner housing 35 are disposed at more forward positions
than the insertion hole 6A of the vertical plate 6B of the
partition wall 6, respectively. The second portion 35B of the inner
housing 35 extends to the vertical plate 6B rearward from the first
portion 35A in a state of surrounding the first shaft 17C of the
drive shaft 17, and is inserted into the insertion hole 6A. A rear
end portion of the second portion 35B protrudes rearwardly from the
insertion hole 6A.
In the second preferred embodiment, an annular concave portion 6G
that is rearwardly hollowed while surrounding the insertion hole 6A
is provided at a front surface of the vertical plate 6B. The bottom
of the concave portion 6G defines a peripheral edge portion 6H of
the insertion hole 6A in the vertical plate 6B. In the elastic
member 38 surrounding the first portion 35A of the inner housing
35, the closer-to-the-rear second engagement portion 38C is fitted
to the concave portion 6G, and is sandwiched between the rear end
of the first portion 35A and the peripheral edge portion 6H of the
insertion hole 6A.
The outer housing 39 faces the vertical plate 6B of the partition
wall 6 from the front. Each of the fixed portions 39C of the outer
housing 39 comes into contact with any portion of the vertical
plate 6B from the front. Each of the fixed portions 39C includes a
through-hole 39G that passes through the fixed portion 39C in the
front-rear direction. A threaded hole 6J is provided in a portion
of the vertical plate 6B that faces the through-hole 39G of each of
the fixed portions 39C. In the present preferred embodiment, a
connection member 47 including a bolt is inserted into each of the
through-holes 39G from the front, and is tightened into the
threaded hole 6J, as an element of the housing bearing 31. Thus,
the entirety of the outer housing 39 is connected to the partition
wall 6. A washer 48 may be disposed between a head portion of the
bolt in the connection member 47 and the partition wall 6. The end
wall 39D of the outer housing 39 surrounds the first shaft 17C of
the drive shaft 17 in a non-contact manner. The end wall 39D
extends in the radial direction R that intersects with the drive
shaft 17 (in the present preferred embodiment, perpendicular or
substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft 17). The front end
portion of the first shaft 17C at which the groove 17E is provided
is disposed at a more forward position than the end wall 39D.
In the outer housing 39 connected to the partition wall 6 as
described above, the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral
wall 39A is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the
elastic member 38, and the end wall 39D rearwardly presses at least
one portion (in FIG. 5, the whole area) of the front end surface of
the elastic member 38 in the same way as the positioning member 40.
Thus, the first engagement portion 38B of the elastic member 38 is
pressed against the front end surface of the inner housing 35.
Additionally, the outer peripheral portion of the rear end surface
of the elastic member 38 is pressed against the vertical plate 6B
of the partition wall 6. In other words, the end wall 39D presses
the elastic member 38 toward the vertical plate 6B. Thus, the
elastic member 38 is compressed in the front-rear direction between
the end wall 39D and the vertical plate 6B, and, in accordance with
this compression, spreads inwardly and outwardly in the radial
direction R. Therefore, the elastic member 38 is tightly pressed
into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first portion
35A of the inner housing 35, and is tightly pressed into contact
with the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 39A of the
outer housing 39. The elastic member 38 in this state is positioned
in the front-rear direction and in the radial direction R with
respect to the inner housing 35, with respect to the outer housing
39, and with respect to the bearing 34 disposed in the inner
housing 35. It should be noted that the second engagement portion
38C fitted to the concave portion 6G of the partition wall 6 in the
elastic member 38 may be slightly spaced forwardly from the bottom
(peripheral edge portion 6H) of the concave portion 6G.
As described above, according to the first and second preferred
embodiments, the drive shaft 17 is rotated by the driving force of
the engine 3, and the driving force of the engine 3 is transmitted
to the propulsion device 13 due to the rotation of the drive shaft
17. The propulsion device 13 generates a thrust by the transmission
of the driving force of the engine 3. The drive shaft 17 is
rotatably supported by the bearing 34 in a state in which the drive
shaft 17 is inserted in the insertion hole 6A in the partition wall
6. The bearing 34 is elastically supported by the elastic member
38, and therefore vibrations of the drive shaft 17 and of the
bearing 34, which result from the rotation of the drive shaft 17
and the like, are absorbed by the elastic deformation of the
elastic member 38. Therefore, it is possible to significantly
reduce or prevent vibrations of the drive shaft 17 and of the
bearing 34 from being transmitted to the vessel body 2.
Additionally, the displacement of the drive shaft 17 and the
displacement of the bearing 34 are permitted when vibrations occur,
and, as a result, fatigue caused by vibrations is not easily
accumulated on these components, and therefore it is possible to
significantly reduce or prevent these components from being
broken.
The elastic member 38 is supported by the outer housing 39 fixed to
the partition wall 6. Additionally, the elastic member 38 is
pressed by the positioning member 40, and thus is positioned with
respect to the bearing 34 and the outer housing 39. Therefore, the
elastic member 38 is not required to be bonded to the bearing 34
and to the outer housing 39 in order to position the elastic member
38. Therefore, it is possible to reduce production costs for an
arrangement that supports the drive shaft 17.
Additionally, in the first and second preferred embodiments, the
housing bearing 31, which is an element that supports the drive
shaft 17, is fixed to the partition wall 6 by the outer housing 39.
Therefore, even in various kinds of vessels 1 that differ from each
other in the peripheral structure of the drive shaft 17 or in the
size, etc., of the vessel body 2, it is possible to attach the
housing bearing 31 to the vessel body 2 by using the partition wall
6 and the outer housing 39. For example, if a plurality of
partition walls 6 are provided, it is possible to optimize the
position of the housing bearing 31 by disposing the housing bearing
31 at a partition wall 6 located at an appropriate position. This
makes it possible to allow the drive shaft 17 supported by the
bearing 34 of the housing bearing 31 to smoothly rotate without a
wobble.
In the first and second preferred embodiments, the positioning
member 40 presses the elastic member 38 toward the partition wall
6, and, as a result, the elastic member 38 is positioned with
respect to the bearing 34 and the outer housing 39. According to
the above structural arrangement, the elastic member 38 is pressed
toward the partition wall 6 by the positioning member 40, and thus
is compressed in a pressing direction (in the present preferred
embodiment, in the front-rear direction) by the positioning member
40. Accordingly, the elastic member 38 spreads in a direction (in
the present preferred embodiment, in the radial direction R) that
intersects the pressing direction. The bearing 34 and the outer
housing 39 extend in the direction in which the elastic member 38
spreads, and therefore the spreading elastic member 38 is
positioned with respect to the bearing 34 and the outer housing 39
by being tightly pressed into contact with the bearing 34 and the
outer housing 39. Thus, the elastic member 38 is not required to be
bonded to the bearing 34 and to the outer housing 39 in order to
position the elastic member 38. Therefore, it is possible to reduce
production costs for an arrangement that supports the drive shaft
17. Preferably, a certain degree of fastening allowance is reserved
for the elastic member 38 during an assembly process in which it
has not yet been pressed by the positioning member 40 so that the
elastic member 38 is able to be deformed as above.
In the first and second preferred embodiments, the partition wall 6
is fixed to the vessel body 2, and the outer housing 39 supports
the elastic member 38 in a state in which the outer housing 39 is
fixed to the partition wall 6. Thus, the elastic member 38 is fixed
to the vessel body 2 through the outer housing 39 and the partition
wall 6, thus making it possible to support the bearing 34 in a
state in which positional stability is maintained. This enables the
bearing 34 to support the drive shaft 17 in a state in which
positional stability is maintained.
In the first and second preferred embodiments, the elastic member
38 supports the bearing 34 through the inner housing 35 that houses
the bearing 34. In this case, when the positioning member 40
positions the elastic member 38 with respect to the inner housing
35 by pressing the elastic member 38, the elastic member 38 is also
positioned with respect to the bearing 34 disposed in the inner
housing 35. Thus, the elastic member 38 is not required to be
bonded to the inner housing 35 and to the outer housing 39 in order
to position the elastic member 38. Therefore, it is possible to
reduce production costs for an arrangement that supports the drive
shaft 17.
In the first and second preferred embodiments, even if the elastic
member 38 is not bonded to the inner housing 35 and is not bonded
to the outer housing 39, the elastic member 38 is positioned with
respect to the inner housing 35 and the outer housing 39 by being
pressed by the positioning member 40. Thus, the elastic member 38
is not required to be bonded to the inner housing 35, to the
bearing 34 disposed in the inner housing 35, and to the outer
housing 39. Therefore, it is possible to reduce production costs
for an arrangement that supports the drive shaft 17.
In the first preferred embodiment, the outer housing 39 that
supports the bearing 34 through the elastic member 38 is integral
and unitary with the partition wall 6, and therefore it is possible
to reduce the number of components. Therefore, it is possible to
reduce production costs for an arrangement that supports the drive
shaft 17. Additionally, it is possible to achieve a weight
reduction by an integrated structure of the partition wall 6 and
the outer housing 39.
In the first preferred embodiment, the outer housing 39 that
supports the bearing 34 through the elastic member 38 includes a
cylindrical body that is simple in shape, and therefore it is
possible to easily produce the outer housing 39. Therefore, it is
possible to reduce production costs for an arrangement that
supports the drive shaft 17.
In the second preferred embodiment, although the outer housing 39
that supports the bearing 34 through the elastic member 38 is a
component different from the partition wall 6, the outer housing 39
includes a cylindrical body that is simple in shape, and therefore
it is possible to easily produce the outer housing 39. Therefore,
it is possible to reduce production costs for an arrangement that
supports the drive shaft 17.
In the second preferred embodiment, the end wall 39D of the outer
housing 39 that supports the bearing 34 through the elastic member
38 also defines and functions as a positioning member 40 that
positions the elastic member 38, and therefore it is possible to
reduce the number of components. Therefore, it is possible to
reduce production costs for an arrangement that supports the drive
shaft 17.
In the first and second preferred embodiments, if it is difficult
to produce the outer housing 39 that supports the bearing 34
through the elastic member 38 as an integral structure, it is
possible to define the outer housing 39 by using a plurality of
components that are separable from each other as described above.
An operator is able to complete the outer housing 39 by combining
these components together. This makes it possible to provide the
outer housing 39 with a desired structure, and makes it possible to
reduce production costs for an arrangement that supports the drive
shaft 17.
In the first and second preferred embodiments, the inner housing 35
that houses the bearing 34 includes a cylindrical body that is
simple in shape, and therefore it is possible to easily produce the
inner housing 35. Therefore, it is possible to reduce production
costs for an arrangement that supports the drive shaft 17.
In the first and second preferred embodiments, a gap K between the
inner housing 35 and the drive shaft 17 supported by the bearing 34
in the inner housing 35 is closed by the first seal 36, and
therefore it is possible to significantly reduce or prevent foreign
substances, such as water, from entering the gap K.
In the first and second preferred embodiments, the gap K between
the inner housing 35 and the drive shaft 17 supported by the
bearing 34 in the inner housing 35 is closed not only by the first
seal 36 but also by the second seal 37 so that the bearing 34 is
sandwiched between the first seals 36 and the second seal 37. This
makes it possible to more significantly reduce or prevent foreign
substances, such as water, from entering the gap K, and
additionally makes it possible to significantly reduce or prevent
foreign substances from adhering to the bearing 34.
In the first and second preferred embodiments, a portion of the
drive shaft 17 supported by the bearing 34 that is inserted in the
insertion hole 6A of the partition wall 6 is surrounded by the
second portion 35B of the inner housing 35 that houses the bearing
34, and therefore the portion of the drive shaft 17 is isolated
from the peripheral edge portion of the insertion hole 6A of the
partition wall 6. Thus, even if the bearing 34 supported by the
elastic member 38 is displaced by vibrations or the like, the drive
shaft 17 displaced together with the bearing 34 is protected by the
second portion 35B so as not to come into contact with the
peripheral edge portion of the insertion hole 6A of the partition
wall 6. Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce or
prevent the drive shaft 17 from being broken by the contact of the
drive shaft 17 with the peripheral edge portion of the insertion
hole 6A.
In the first and second preferred embodiments, the elastic member
38 that supports the bearing 34 includes a cylindrical body that is
simple in shape, and therefore it is possible to easily produce the
elastic member 38. Therefore, it is possible to reduce production
costs for an arrangement that supports the drive shaft 17.
In the second preferred embodiment, a gap J (see FIG. 5) between
the first portion 35A of the inner housing 35 and the peripheral
edge portion of the insertion hole 6A of the partition wall 6 is
closed by the second engagement portion 38C of the elastic member
38, and therefore it is possible to significantly reduce or prevent
foreign substances, such as water, from entering the gap J.
In the first and second preferred embodiments, the hole 38D is
provided in the elastic member 38. According to the above
structural arrangement, it is possible to reduce the amount of
material of the elastic member 38 that supports the bearing 34, and
therefore it is possible to reduce production costs for an
arrangement that supports the drive shaft 17. Additionally, it is
possible to adjust the spring constant of the elastic member 38
that is deformed by being pressed by the positioning member 40 in
accordance with the size or the shape of the hole 38D. Thus, it is
possible to adjust the degree of adhesion of the elastic member 38
to the bearing 34 and to the outer housing 39 by adjusting the
spring constant of the elastic member 38. Therefore, it is possible
to position the elastic member 38 with respect to the bearing 34
and with respect to the outer housing 39 by the necessary strength
even if the elastic member 38 is not bonded to the bearing 34 and
to the outer housing 39. Therefore, it is possible to reduce
production costs for an arrangement that supports the drive shaft
17.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
described above, the present invention is not restricted to the
contents of these preferred embodiments and various modifications
are possible within the scope of the present invention.
For example, the vessel 1 is a jet propulsion watercraft in which
the propulsion device 13 includes a jet pump in the above-described
preferred embodiments, and therefore it is possible to reduce
production costs in the jet propulsion watercraft as described
above. Of course, the propulsion device 13 may be a known
propulsion device except a jet pump, and the vessel 1 may be a
vessel except a jet propulsion watercraft. A vessel including an
inboard/outboard motor or including an inboard motor are examples
of vessels except the jet propulsion watercraft. In the
inboard/outboard motor, an engine is disposed inside the vessel and
in which a drive unit including a thrust generating member and a
steering mechanism is disposed outside the vessel. The engine and
the drive unit are connected together by a drive shaft. The inboard
motor has both an engine and a drive unit built into a vessel body
and in which a propeller shaft extends from the drive unit to the
outside of the vessel.
Additionally, the inner housing 35 may be omitted, and the elastic
member 38 may directly support the bearing 34.
Various features described above may be appropriately combined
together.
Also, features of two or more of the various preferred embodiments
described above may be combined.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
described above, it is to be understood that variations and
modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The
scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined
solely by the following claims.
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